Zurkowsky: Richardson saga hangs over Als

He might be gone, but it seems like the ghost of Jamel Richardson will continue to haunt the Alouettes in the near future. Two sources have told The Gazette that Richardson, released by the Als on June 21 after six years with the team, is probably going to go to arbitration and file an injury grievance against the club.

He might be gone, but it seems like the ghost of Jamel Richardson will continue to haunt the Alouettes in the near future.

Two sources have told The Gazette that Richardson, released by the Als on June 21 after six years with the team, is probably going to go to arbitration and file an injury grievance against the club.

Ed Molstad, the legal counsel for the players’ association, refused comment when contacted by The Gazette.

“It’s our practice not to make public comments about matters that may involve a dispute between a club and the player,” he said.

Similarly, Als general manager Jim Popp, who attended Tuesday’s practice in St-Léonard, distanced himself from the potential controversy.

“I have no comment about anything with Jamel,” Popp said. “He decided to leave and made that choice. We’ve moved on.”

Richardson, 32, an import from Syracuse, N.Y., suffered two torn ligaments that required surgery after a practice last August. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder joined Montreal in 2008, after four seasons with Saskatchewan, and produced five consecutive years of at least 1,000 yards with the Als.

That included 2011, when he posted career highs, with 112 catches for 1,777 yards. Incredibly, Richardson wasn’t named the Canadian Football League’s most outstanding player.

Richardson went to training camp last month and was placed on the injured-exempt list — a move that required his and the players’ association’s approval. The list is eligible for players coming off surgery — providing the athlete and his club protection through camp — and must be done 10 days before reporting.

Richardson did rehabilitation on a daily basis through camp, on the sideline with other injured players. He worked at a feverish pace but, when re-examined, still couldn’t pass his physical.

At the end of camp and no longer exempt, Popp — with the approval of owner Robert Wetenhall — offered Richardson a new contract, including a reduced salary. But the Als were willing to keep Richardson on the six-game injured list, with no guarantee if or when he would recover, so he would receive a salary. Richardson ultimately quashed the offer but, in doing so, waived his right to collect a $12,000 ratification bonus, part of the new collective agreement.

Richardson told players the Als kept him on injured-exempt until he could be released. Now, it seems, he’s claiming to the players’ association he aggravated the injury by pushing so hard at camp.

Every veteran player is protected from injury when he attends camp. That includes an aggravation of a previous injury. Should this occur, the player can be entitled to compensation until he’s fit to play.

If a player has an injury grievance, he must serve notice against the club. He then must undergo an examination by a neutral doctor.

Since his release, The Gazette has reported that Richardson went to Toronto, but couldn’t pass his physical. Last week, both Calgary newspapers reported the Stampeders brought him in for an MRI on his knee. Last Friday, Calgary GM and head coach John Hufnagel said Richardson had no immediate future with the team.

Meanwhile, the Als returned to practice for the first time since last weekend’s offensive debacle, vowing to improve. The coaching staff will simplify the offence — shorter passes and plenty of rushing plays — for quarterback Troy Smith, who was brutal against Calgary.

Not only did Smith overthrow receivers, he frequently failed to set his feet and looked indecisive, completing only 17 of 40 throws for 127 yards. He was intercepted once and the Als didn’t score a touchdown until the game’s final play.

Can this team drastically improve in less than a week, before entertaining British Columbia Friday night? Unlikely. Indeed, when Ryan Dinwiddie replaced fired offensive co-ordinator Rick Worman nine days into camp, it likely set the offence back one-half season. Those simply are the facts.

Dinwiddie said he has looked at late-season tapes from 2013, when Smith became the starter, trying to determine what he does well so he becomes more comfortable.

“The indecision of going out there and not knowing starts with your feet,” explained Dinwiddie, a former quarterback. “If your feet are right, you’re confident and getting your reads. Some misreads were discouraging. That’s on me as much as him. We want to make things simple and let him rely on his natural ability.

“We have to put them in positive situations where they can execute the plays,” he continued. “We have to work on it as a staff. And they have to look in the mirror.

“Last week, obviously, was unacceptable.”

Given the Als’ depth on offence, the focus will continue being directed on the coaching staff should the team struggle. But should Smith put the ball anywhere close to his receivers, they should be capable of making plays and generating offence.

Against the Lions, that offence quite possibly will be missing Duron Carter, who continues being plagued by an ankle injury. He was replaced on Tuesday by Brandon London.

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